§ 11. Mr. Bruceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the level of capital investment by the public sector in Scotland.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members and from other individuals and organisations about the level of public sector capital investment, which has borne up well despite the overriding need to restrain public expenditure.
§ Mr. BruceWill the Minister acknowledge, as the CBI in Scotland has done, that public expenditure and public investment are the quickest and most effective ways of dealing with unemployment? There are 75,000 unemployed construction workers in Scotland and an increase in public investment in Scotland would be the most important act that the Government could take to reduce dole queues.
§ Mr. StewartI can assure the hon. Gentleman that capital spending in Scotland is at a high level. It is running at about £1,500 million in the current year. However, we need to restrain the total of public expenditure. Increased spending means increased borrowing, higher inflation and higher levels of unemployment in the long run.